Information Minister Attaullah Tarar warned on Tuesday that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness, stating during a seminar in Islamabad that the nation will respond to any attempts to disrupt peace in the country. Speaking at an event titled “Afghan Predicament and the Trajectory to Peace,” Tarar emphasized that while Pakistan remains committed to peaceful coexistence and negotiations, attempts from Afghanistan to destabilize Pakistan have been and shall be responded to.
Addressing Regional Security and Militant Safe Havens
Tarar stated that the interim Afghan government must transition from a “militant mindset” to the mindset of a statesman or a state, pointing to the existence of safe havens for terrorists and internationally proscribed organizations within Afghanistan. He noted that Pakistan has dispatched various high-level delegations to Afghanistan in pursuit of a solution and peaceful coexistence, stressing that viable and sustainable peace must be achieved through dialogue. According to the minister, violent extremism and militancy remain the only problem preventing the establishment of trade routes connecting landlocked Central Asian states to warm waters through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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Did You Know?
The seminar where Information Minister Attaullah Tarar delivered his remarks was officially titled “Afghan Predicament and the Trajectory to Peace” and took place in Islamabad.
Economic Potential and Regional Trade Linkages
Highlighting the broader economic stakes, Tarar argued that regional stability could boost trade and attract investment, including the long-desired trade route to Karachi and Gwadar for Central Asian states. He maintained that there is a regional consensus regarding the desire to achieve peace and boost trade, but reiterated that progress depends on the interim Afghan government understanding the problem and trying to find a solution with good intentions.
Fundamental Rights and the Disconnect in Afghanistan
Turning to domestic conditions within Afghanistan, Tarar addressed the exclusion of a large number of women from the workforce and the denial of fundamental rights to segments of Afghan society under what he termed a “self-created ideology of Islam.” He asserted that this imposed brand of Islam does not reflect the true ideology of the faith, which relies on the principle of “live and let live.” Tarar suggested a growing disconnect between ordinary Afghan citizens—who he stated desire economic prosperity and an elevated standard of living—and the interim government’s denial of basic freedoms and security challenges.
Attaullah Tarar warns Afghanistan against disrupting peace in Pakistan
What did Information Minister Attaullah Tarar warn Afghanistan against?
Tarar warned that any attempt from Afghanistan to disrupt peace or destabilize Pakistan would be responded to, adding that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be interpreted as weakness.
What did Tarar identify as the main obstacle to regional trade?
He stated that violent extremism and militancy are the only problems preventing the establishment of trade routes from Central Asia through Afghanistan to Pakistan.
What concerns did the minister raise regarding Afghan society?
Tarar highlighted the denial of basic rights, the exclusion of women from the workforce, and a general denial of the terrorism problem and safe havens by the interim Afghan government, arguing that these policies contradict true Islamic principles.
How might regional trade routes transform Central Asian and Pakistani economies if sustainable peace is achieved?